Bust Out of Your Vacation Rut

Before your spend the money you worked so hard to save traveling to the same place you—and everyone else—has gone before, consider a trip to one of these under-the-radar destinations. After all, you deserve a truly special getaway.

Instead of Las Vegas, visit Palm Springs, CA

Instead of Las Vegas, visit Palm Springs, CA

When it comes to a desert oasis heavy on glitz and glamour—with a healthy dose of old-fashioned kitsch thrown in—Sin City has a competitor in Palm Springs, where pools, palm trees, and mid-century mansions converge. The city's cool factor jumps each April as scenesters from around the globe descend on nearby Indio for the Coachella Valley Arts and Music Festival. And while it's tough to compete with Vegas when it comes to gambling, Palm Springs is no slouch, with six casinos in the relatively small region. Stay at one of the serene monochromatic rooms at Alcazar, a 34-room property that's part of a burgeoning Palm Springs institution run by Tara Lazar, who also owns chic eatery Birba and locally-beloved brunch spot Cheeky's.

Instead of the Grand Canyon, visit Colorado National Monument

Instead of the Grand Canyon, visit Colorado National Monument

Colorado National Monument would have an easy time slipping into disguise as the Grand Canyon—except for one not so small detail: crowd size. While the Grand Canyon topped a whopping 4,400,00 visitors in 2012, Colorado National Monument saw only about one-tenth of that. Camping and hiking are available year-round, or try the scenic 23-mile drive along the area's Rim Rock. Plus, a trip to these parts puts you in good position to sample one of the surprising number of wineries in the area. In less than 15 years in business, Grand Junction's Two Rivers Winery, just 30 minutes from Colorado National Monument, has managed to rack up over 60 awards for its pours.